TNA's Battle of the Dinosaurs: Sting vs. Ric Flair One More Time

Let me start off by saying that I am a big fan of both Sting and Ric Flair. The title is purely for the sake of humor. At the same time, though, they are dinosaurs in a business that is a young man’s game.

Last night on Impact Wrestling, Sting started things out in the ring. The Nature Boy would interrupt him. He wanted one more match with the Stinger. There’s a catch, though. If Flair wins, Sting must retire and never wrestle again. But if Sting wins, Flair will serve him Hulk Hogan on a silver platter. Sting accepted and the match is on.

Ric Flair and Sting have had some great battles in the past. They’ve been wrestling each other since the mid-80s. They have very rarely seen eye-to-eye despite both being members of the legendary Four Horsemen as well as being quasi-teammates in the battle against the New World Order.

In 1988, they battled at the very first Clash of the Champions. The match went to a 45-minute time-limit draw and was match of the year. Some consider this one of the best matches in the history of the business.

They wrestled each other so many times that I bet Flair and Sting don’t know the exact number.

The last time we saw them go at it was March 26, 2001 in the main event of the final WCW Monday Nitro. Six years prior, they were the main event of the very first Nitro. It was fitting that the two men that helped start it all were there to finish it. Fans thought that this would be the last time we’d ever get to see them fight.

Then to the surprise of everyone, Ric Flair joined TNA in 2010, a company Sting has been with since 2003. We all knew it was only a matter of time before we saw Sting vs. Ric Flair one final time. Well, we’re finally getting it. It just took over a year for it to happen.

I know a lot of people are going to bash the idea of Sting vs. Flair to no end. I like it, though. It’s a fitting end to their long rivalry and a step in the right direction.

Why you ask?

Well, because it’s obvious that Sting is going to win. When that happens, Flair helps Sting in getting rid of Hogan. We’ll have Sting vs. Hogan at Bound for Glory then that should be it. The storyline is over. Sting vs. Ric Flair is the beginning of the end to a storyline that seems like it’s been going on forever.

Sting will win this feud; Hogan already spoiled the whole thing in an interview. Once this ends, Hogan shouldn’t be on television anymore as he would have been defeated. I also don’t see Hogan being in TNA come 2012. He was supposed to be there to help the company, but not much has happened in his time there. I don’t think TNA will renew his contract as he’s most likely costing TNA more money than it's making.

With Hogan gone, Flair will probably be out as well, and possibly Eric Bischoff too. In addition, I think this will be the year Sting finally retires. He had a hell of a year so far this year, and he should go out on a high note.

While Sting vs. Ric Flair is a battle of dinosaurs, it serves a purpose. It may be a train wreck in the ring, but it may also surprise us. Before you bash it to high heaven, give it a chance.

Wait and see how it plays out.